Kidnapped Baby's Family Will Sue

May 04, 2000

The family of a premature baby who died after being snatched from the nursery at Loyola University Medical Center plans to sue the hospital, the family's attorney said Thursday. Hospital officials blamed their electrical security system, saying a door failed to lock after the baby's wristband set off alarms late Monday. But James Montgomery, one of the family's attorneys, said he doesn't buy the hospital's assertion that human error did not contribute to the death of 2-week-old Zquan Wakefield, who suffocated early Tuesday under a pile of laundry. Vanecha Cooper, a 24-year-old Chicago woman, was later charged with kidnapping and murder. "When she reached over and took that baby from that crib, they should have been aware that she had no permission to deal with this kid," said Montgomery. Loyola officials also declined to comment Thursday on the family's plan to sue. Montgomery said the lawsuit will be filed in Cook County Circuit Court in the next week to 10 days. The lawsuit will seek unspecified damages, he said.